Page 4 of Hard as Stone (Stoneheart MC #2)

POPPY

“ Y ou think Dad will notice if we put in for overtime?” I survey the balls on the table while I decide on my next shot. “Because we didn’t get paid as much as I thought we would this month, and I’m pretty sure kicking your ass at pool counts as work.”

Hugo snorts, leaning on his pool cue. “In your dreams, little sister. Dad paid us the same as always. Besides, I’m just warming up.”

“Uh-huh,” I drawl, quickly lining up and sinking my last two balls with a smirk in my brother’s direction. “That’s what you said three games ago.”

I straighten up, openly chuckling at Hugo’s groan over his impending defeat. “Face it, big brother. You’re about as good at pool as you are at fixing sewage pipes.”

“Low blow, Poppy,” he grumbles, but I can see the smile tugging at his lips.

“Speaking of low,” Felix says from where he’s nursing his beer at the high-top. “You think Dad might pay us overtime or hazard pay when that money from Summit comes in?”

I laugh, leaning my cue against the table. “Hazard pay? For what, having to look at your ugly mug all day?”

Felix clutches his chest in mock offense. “Hey now, this face is a gift to womankind.”

“Yeah, the kind of gift they return,” Hugo quips, dodging the peanut Felix chucks at his head.

“I’m serious!” Felix says. “We all know the contract we got for this town is huge. And I agree with Poppy that this month’s pay was lighter than I expected. It’s only fair if we all get our fair share.”

I focus on caulking my cue. “You know Dad, Felix. He’s not exactly Mr. Generous when it comes to bonuses. I guess if we’re lucky, he’ll spring for a pizza party when this is all over.”

“I’d rather the cash in the bank,” Felix grumbles.

No matter what town we’re working in, our monthly pool night after payday is normally sacred.

No work talk allowed. But after everything we’ve dealt with since arriving in Stoneheart—paperwork and permit issues, broken pipes and angry bikers—we’re all feeling a little grumbly and need to blow off steam.

“Forget the money,” Hugo says, draining the last of his beer. “Dad says he’s saving for our future, so we should trust him. We’re all fine, right? So, let’s just focus on the game. And more importantly, it’s Poppy’s turn to buy a round.”

“Nope. Loser buys, and I haven’t lost yet.” I lean over the table and draw back my cue, focused on making it four out of four when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, a tingling awareness prickling along my skin. Before I can process why, a deep, gravelly voice hits me like a physical touch.

“You’ve got to be shitting me.”

I glance up to find Axel—my favorite grumpy biker slash newfound frenemy and possible late-night fantasy—standing at the edge of the pool area, his expression caught between frustration and a darkness that makes my pulse jump.

Without his helmet and bike, I finally get a full, unobstructed look at him—ash-brown hair that’s just a little too long to be considered short, a full beard that’s rugged but not scraggly, and eyes that are a haunting shade of gray.

His leather jacket, the one with the Stoneheart MC patch, is unzipped, revealing a cut over a black T-shirt.

And he’s tall. Way taller than I am. Big feet and hands…

“Well, well. Look who finally followed the yellow signs,” I say, my eyes still on his as my muscle memory takes over. I take my shot, the cue connecting with its target, followed by the satisfying crack of the eight ball dropping into the corner pocket.

His jaw tightens, but I catch a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Seems like I can’t escape you, no matter which way I turn.”

I straighten slowly, propping my cue against the table and meeting Axel’s gaze.

I’m not exactly shocked to see him here.

I’ve driven past this place dozens of times over the last month, watching the parade of bikes come and go, wondering if my, I mean the, Road Captain was inside.

I’d been steering clear of this place out of respect for my dad’s warnings about the MC.

But after all our run-ins at various roadblocks around town (I swear Axel’s been finding excuses to take detours just to see me), I figured it was time to see if this tension between Axel and me exists somewhere besides on the road.

My brothers had wanted to try out a newer bar on the east side of town, but I’d convinced them it had to be here.

We wouldn’t fit in anywhere fancy with all that dirt and grease that finds its way into every crack and crevice of our hands…

“Maybe it’s fate,” I tease, unable to resist poking the bear. “Or maybe you’re just stalking me. Should I be flattered or concerned?”

He snorts, taking a step closer. “Trust me, sweetheart, if I was stalking you, you’d know it.”

I force myself to maintain my bravado, even as my heart races. “Ooh, is that a threat or a promise?” I cock my hip against the pool table.

“Poppy,” Hugo warns from behind me, his voice low. I can practically feel the tension radiating off my brothers.

Axel’s gaze flicks to them briefly before returning to me.

“Relax, boys,” I say, without taking my eyes off the biker. “Mr. Tall, Dark and Broody here is harmless. Aren’t you, sugar?”

Axel’s lips twitch, almost like he’s fighting a smile. “You sure about that?”

I lean in closer, lowering my voice. “Please. If you were really dangerous, you wouldn’t have let a girl with a stop sign boss you around all month.”

He chuckles, a low rumble that I feel in my chest. “Maybe I just like bossy women.” His eyes do a slow travel down the length of my body, pausing on my shoes. “No ruby slippers?”

I glance down at my scuffed Doc Martens, plain black and devoid of any glittery embellishments. “Sadly, no. I like to keep my… pizzazz to office hours only.” I lean in conspiratorially. “But between you and me, I’m working on bedazzling a collar with the name Toto on it for you next.”

Axel’s eyes crinkle at the corners. “That’s a gift I hope I never receive.”

“Poppy.” Felix’s voice cuts through our banter this time. “We should probably head out. It’s getting late.”

Part of me wants to tell my brothers to chill out—I can handle myself. But another part recognizes the genuine worry in their voices.

With a sigh, I turn back to Axel. “Looks like our witty repartee will have to wait for another day,” I say, trying to ignore the pang of disappointment in my chest. “See you on the roads, sugar.”

Axel’s eyes flicker between me and my brothers, something unreadable passing across his face. For a moment, I think he’s going to let me walk away. But then he reaches past me, his arm brushing against mine as he grabs a pool cue from the rack.

“Hold up,” Axel says, his voice low and gravelly. “You might be able to boss me around on the road, but at least give me a chance to beat you at pool.”

He runs his hand along the smooth wood of the cue, his fingers tracing the grain in a way that makes my mouth go dry. “Unless you’re afraid of a little competition?”

I glance back at my brothers, seeing the warning they’re trying to silently communicate with their eyes.

But there’s something about the challenge in Axel’s tone that I can’t walk away from.

Maybe it’s the adrenaline from our encounters on the road, or maybe it’s just the way he fills out those jeans. Either way, I’m not backing down.

“Afraid?” I scoff, grabbing my cue back up. “Honey, I eat men like you for breakfast.”

The corner of Axel’s mouth ticks up. “Is that so?”

I lean in close, my voice dropping to a whisper. “Oh yeah. And I always go back for seconds.”

Axel’s eyes darken, and for a moment I think he might just grab me and kiss me right there.

The tension between us is insane, and I’m well aware that I’m talking and behaving like a crazy person—I mean, I’ve never eaten any man, let alone a scary-looking biker, for breakfast. Nor have I gone back for seconds. What am I even saying?

“Rack ‘em up,” he growls.

“Sure thing.” I blink, shaking off my lusty haze and racking the balls, very aware of the way he follows my every movement. “You sure you’re up for getting your ass handed to you twice in one day?”

A couple of his biker buddies—Lee and Cash based on the names displayed on their cuts—settle at a nearby high-top, clearly planning to enjoy the show.

Axel hands them his jacket, but keeps the leather cut on.

I almost let out a little squeak over how hot he looks from the way it tucks in at his waist.

Water, please!

“Poppy,” Felix hisses so only I can hear. “What happened to staying clear of the MC?”

“That was Dad’s rule, not mine.” I turn to my brothers, who are hovering nearby, wringing their hands like worried old ladies. “But if you’re so scared of the big bad bikers, you guys can just head out. I’ll catch up later.”

“Poppy,” Hugo starts, but I don’t give him a chance to continue when I step away and hand the caulk to Axel. Out of the corner of my eye, I see my brothers give up trying to stop me and head to the bar to take up drinking instead.

“Why don’t you go first, Road Captain? That way, you’ll have a chance to at least look like you’re winning.”

He lets out a deep chuckle and takes the caulk from my hand, his fingers brushing mine in a way that sends sparks shooting up my arm. He leans in close, his breath hot on my ear as he murmurs, “Ladies first.”

I suppress the shiver that threatens to run down my spine. Two can play at this game.

“Such a gentleman,” I purr, leaning in so my lips nearly brush his ear. “But I insist. Age before beauty, after all.”

Axel pulls back, his eyes dark with challenge and something else I can’t quite name. “Careful, little girl. You might be biting off more than you can chew.”

“Little?” I arch an eyebrow. “I’ve never been called ‘little’ a day in my life. You’re just freakishly huge.”

Axel’s lips twitch. “Is that so?”

“Yep. And I still bet I can kick your ass at pool, Goliath.”